I also have the machine and love it! I can quilt smaller project with no issues - twin size quilts on down. Anything larger will give you fits as the throat size is small. I do not like the extension table as the legs keep folding up on me, but I am working on a solution for that! Over all, the machine is a great deal for the money and wouldn't think twice about buying another.
The needle will reset to the left position everytime you turn off the machine, but it is just a simple bump on one of the buttons to change to middle position and have never broken any needles.